There are two distinct types of mechanics – general mechanics and specialized mechanics. General mechanics also called general practitioners, provide repair services for a variety of automotive systems, such as brakes, transmissions, engines, cooling systems, and electrical systems. They are the people you typically take your car to when it needs a tune-up or repairs of any kind. On the other hand, specialized mechanics focus on particular areas of expertise, such as diesel engines, air conditioning systems, or auto body work.
General mechanics use their experience and knowledge to diagnose problems and make necessary repairs with replacement parts, or re-fabricating used parts. The tools of a general mechanic include wrenches and ratchets for tightening bolts; screwdrivers; pliers; hammers; files; drills; jacks and stand to lift vehicles off the ground; pry bars to remove stubborn fasteners; soldering irons to join wires together; saws to cut metal pieces apart; welders to join metal components together; crimping tools for wire work and painting equipment for bodywork.
Specialized mechanics focus primarily on one area of expertise, such as auto body repair specialists who specialize in repairing vehicle bodies, including minor dents to major collision repair. Auto body repair technicians may use special tools like spot welders for sheet metal joining and frame straightening machines for restoring damaged frames back into shape. Auto painters use a variety of paints, from primer coats to clear coats. Similarly, engine specialists may focus on rebuilding diesel engines by replacing worn-out parts like pistons, connecting rods, and bearings in addition to overhauling fuel injection pumps or performing adjustments on turbochargers, while A/C technicians specializing in air conditioning inspections may use vacuum pump gauges set up with hoses connected to several fittings around the A/C system to ensure that all components are functioning properly before recharging the system with coolant gas.
Whether you need routine maintenance or more complex repairs for your vehicle -from installing new brakes or fixing an electrical problem- it is important that you find a reliable mechanic who is knowledgeable about the specific type of service you require based on their experience and specialty training in order to get your car running again safely and reliably without breaking the bank.
